Wire clamp or stretcher.



J. M. KLUN;

WIRE CLAMP 0R STRETCHER.

APPLICATION FILE-D MAY21.1910.

1,184,106.. Patented May 23,1916.

J' OI-IN`M. KLEIN, OF4 CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

WIRE CLAMP OR STRETCHER.

aisance.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 23, 1916.

Y Application filed May 21, 1910. Serial No. 562,603.

To all 'whom t may concern Be it known that I, JOHN M. KLEIN, a

ycitizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wire Clamps or Stretchers, of which'I do declare the following to be a. full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part hereof.

The present invention has relation to that class of wire clamps or stretchers commonly employed by linemen in the Stringing of telephone, telegraph or like wires, an example of thistype of stretcher being illustrated in Letters Patent of the United States No. 800,745, granted to me October 3, 1905.

The present invention has for its object to improve the construction of clamp so that it` willsecurely hold the wire and so that the interference of the clamp with the wire7 when joints are to be made, will be avoided.

The'invention consists in the features of novelty hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and particularly pointed out in the claims at the end of this specification. j

Figure l is a view in side elevation of a clamp embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view with the-jaws shown in open position. Fig. 3 is a view in longitudinal section on line 3*-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a view in cross section on line 4-4 of Fig. l. Fig. 5 is a view in cross section on line 5-5 of Fig. l. v

As shown, the body of the clamp A is provided with an offset jaw A that is preferably formed integral with' the body. Through this offset or rigid jaw A passes a headed bolt or rivet 2 to which is pivotally connected one end of a lever B. Through this lever B passes a headed bolt or rivet 3 that passes through the movable jaw C of the clamp. The outer end of the lever B 1 has pivotally connected thereto, by a bolt 4,

the parallel links D, one of said links being upon each side of the lever B, and through the opposite ends of these links D passes a 'bolt or rivet 5 that also passes through a slot a in the body A, and upon the outer ends of this rivet 5 are -pivotally mounted the ends of a swivel loop or coupling E. The body A is also formed with an inclined slot a above the jaw A and through this slot passes a headed pin or rivet 6 that passes also through the movable jaw C and serves.

to guide this jaw C in its movements so that, as. 1t moves away from the rigid jaw A it will maintain a substantially parallel relation thereto.

' Between the links D and mounted upon a bolt or stud 7 is a coil spring F, one end of which spring bears against a stop-pin 8 that projects inward from one of the links D, while the other end of the spring F bears against a shoulder b adjacent the upper end of thelink D. The edect of the spring F is to force the movable jaw C normally to its closed position.

With wire clamps or stretchers of the character described, as heretofore constructed, it has been found that, if the opposing faces of the fixed and movable jaws between which the wire is clamped be smooth, there is Vdanger of the slipping of the wire, notwithstanding the pressure thereon of the jaws. It has been heretofore proposed to remedy this objection by forming teeth or serrations upon the jaws. But this has proved objectionable because ofthe cutting of the wire or of the insulating covering surrounding the same. I have found that the slipping of the wire through the jaws can be most effectively prevented and at the same time the cutting of the wire or its insulating covering can be avoided by forming the working face of oneof the jaws with a series of plain surfaces or section c interspaced one from another by transverse grooves c. In the preferred form of the invention, the grooves c, are of varying depth, being shallower or vanishing at the outer side of the jaw C and being of -greatest depth at the inner side of said jaw. Preferably also the working faces of both jaws are provided with longitudinal grooves for receiving the wire.

In practice it is found that, when a wire 'is placed between the jaws A and C, the

short, plain surfaces of the jaw C, separated as they are by the spaces c', will most edectively grip the wire, so that it cannot slip through the jaws, and yet the length of the surfaces c is such that they are prevented from injuring the surface of the wire or of its insulating coating, as would be the case if the surfaces of the jaw were simply serrated.

By forming one at least of the working faces of the jaws with a series of transverse grooves and dividing said working face into a series of short plain sections (that is to against. Y

y YThe spaces o) can be readily cleaned when they Y become clogged. .Inasmuch as the Y spaces c. (in the preferredform ofthe invenf tion) do noty cut through the jaw C at its outer face,theslipping of the wire into the jaw is more readily` eiinected than wouldbe the caseif thespaces c extended of uniform Y depth vfrom side to side of thejaw C.Y

1 iWhen the jaws areto be opened forV the purpose of inserting a wire, itis only necessary to movev inward the linkor coupling E until the jaws occupy theopcn position seen in Fig. 2 of the drawing.

` In prior forms of clamps or stretchers, it has been customary to provide'a pivoted link or coupling similar to the link or coupling E hereinbefore described, but with such prior `clamps the coupling has been freeto swing in either direction around the pivot bolt or vvrivet that connected it to the body-of the clamp. n practice, this free' movement of the link"orcoupling Yhas been found objecitionable because,when itswings acrossfa line drawn Vbetween the opposing faces of the jaw-s, it interferes with the insertion of the Vwire inthe jaws. This is a serious obj ection,

as the-lineman, when using thek clamp, as in Stringing telegraph or telephone wires, must frequently manipulate the stretcher'with one hand, while he uses the'otherin maintaining Y his position upon the pole. .To overcome this objection, I have provided means whereby the swinging of the link or couplingE across'a line parallel Vwith the opposing facesV of the jawsshall be prevented.v In

the preferred Lform ofmy invention, a stop D, this stop extending intothe path Vof the wardY movement. VBy preference, this stop G is formed integral with the end ofthe link D by merely turning outward'the end of the link, as clearly shown in Fig. '5 of the drawis e ing. I'. do not wish the invention, however, Y

in its broader scope, to be understood [as restricted to this'specic forni of vstop for liinitin V'the movement of the'link or Vcoupling ,-as other means maybe employed Y for effecting suchresult. Y 'i i Having thus described my invention, what I claim asnew, and Ydesire to vsecure by Let'- tersjPatent, is-v i, Y'

vl'. vire lclamp adapted for lateral in's'er-V tion of the article to be clamped andcomprising oppositely'disposedjaws, one at least Y of VVsaid jawsbeing formedofshort plainY gripping faces withY spaces between' said faces, said spaces `beingclosed at the inser# tion side ofthe jaws, and' beingopen and relatively deep at the opposite'sideof saidV jaws, 'whereby the article to'be clamped will preventedfrom slipping out thereof'.v l 2. A wire clamp, comprising oppositeiy f disposed jaws, means 'for operating said jaws coinprisilnga connecting portion, Vanda Y Y be drawn more tightly intosaidfjaws vand' coupling pivoted* to said portion, lsaid plor.- tion having an integral extension adjacent l.

said pivot and projecting-into the path of said coupling and serving to. prevent the swinging of: said-coupling Vacross aline parallel with theopposing faces of the jaws.

' JOHN M. KLEIN; ,c

Witnesses:' v Y 'f KATHARINE VVGrnRLAoH, OTTILY C, FREIYBERG.

Copies of this vpatent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing' vthe Commissioner df Patents. Washingtoin'D.C.Y v i f 

